Arcadia Refurbishment Mystery

I believe that Arcadia is due a refurbishment imminently. The P&O website says October 2017 but I believe that it’s November. I have seen no information on this whatsoever, which leads me to suspect that it may be nothing more than new fabrics and furnishings (I believe that only 2 weeks is being allowed for the project). I even enquired during a ship visit to Arcadia a few weeks ago but nobody knew anything. All seems a great mystery. Has anyone heard anything?

You are correct in saying that Arcadia is in for a refit during the first two weeks of November. Can't see it being much more than a spring clean in that space of time, and certainly the deck plans for 2018/19 show no new restaurants or additional facilities.

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It's amazing what they can do in two weeks by throwing everything at it 24 hours a day !!

Please be aware that the ships do not go in just for a refit - by maritime laws and regs they have to undergo a dry dock period every 5 years (where the hull can be inspected fully).

This is the opportunity the company takes to utilise the downtime in undertaking cosmetic internal changes to the ship...

Please be aware that the ships do not go in just for a refit - by maritime laws and regs they have to undergo a dry dock period every 5 years (where the hull can be inspected fully).

This is the opportunity the company takes to utilise the downtime in undertaking cosmetic internal changes to the ship...

Not sure how Arcadia looks these days but Aurora cabins certainly need an update. When we were on her on the World Cruise, our cabin was very tired. The carpet was very worn and stained. There's only so much a poor cabin steward can do to make them look respectable.

Well its a mystery no more. Here's the official release..

We’ve listened to guest feedback and are investing in a range of updates to the Suites, public areas, bars (such as the Piano Bar and Spinnaker Bar), and main restaurants including The Belvedere food court. We’ve entrusted this work to RPW Design, one of the world’s leading hospitality interior design practices that specialises in the creation of stunningly sophisticated interiors. We are sure that guests will be delighted with the new design concepts and improvements to levels of luxury and comfort. Expect new carpets and furniture, soft furnishing refreshes, fixture and fitting upgrades and elegant new colour schemes, among other highlights.

In short:

Aquarius pool and bar

"Look out for updated chairs, bar stools, sofas, coffee tables, signage, wall tiles and more."

Atrium/Reception

"Following your feedback, we’re updating Arcadia’s Reception and three-deck-high Atrium to give it the true ‘wow factor’ it deserves. We’ll be making changes to a number of items including the carpets, chairs, banquettes and cushions."

Oasis Spa

"...will be further enhanced with new carpets and blinds in the reception area. Loungers and armchairs will be refreshed to enhance the soothing atmosphere and new cushions will add the finishing touches."

Intermezzo

"...new colour scheme referencing the Mediterranean. This will be visible in updated carpets, blinds, chairs, sofas, bar stools, coffee tables, lampshades and more. Look out, too, for subtle nods to nautical details in the lighting and ironmongery."

Suites

"New furniture – including sofa beds, armchairs and coffee tables – will create a comfortable ambience, with the help of new decorative items such as curtains, bed cushions, throws and lamps."

The only two that stand out there for me are the changes to the Atrium and Intermezzo. The rest is par for the course of a light refresh.

At least the rumour that there was going to be a Glass House can now be quashed once and for all.

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Well its a mystery no more. Here's the official release..

http://www.pocruises.com/explore/articles/ships/arcadia-refit-in-focus/

 

In short:

Aquarius pool and bar

"Look out for updated chairs, bar stools, sofas, coffee tables, signage, wall tiles and more."

 

Atrium/Reception

"Following your feedback, we’re updating Arcadia’s Reception and three-deck-high Atrium to give it the true ‘wow factor’ it deserves. We’ll be making changes to a number of items including the carpets, chairs, banquettes and cushions."

 

Oasis Spa

"...will be further enhanced with new carpets and blinds in the reception area. Loungers and armchairs will be refreshed to enhance the soothing atmosphere and new cushions will add the finishing touches."

 

Intermezzo

"...new colour scheme referencing the Mediterranean. This will be visible in updated carpets, blinds, chairs, sofas, bar stools, coffee tables, lampshades and more. Look out, too, for subtle nods to nautical details in the lighting and ironmongery."

 

Suites

"New furniture – including sofa beds, armchairs and coffee tables – will create a comfortable ambience, with the help of new decorative items such as curtains, bed cushions, throws and lamps."

 

 

The only two that stand out there for me are the changes to the Atrium and Intermezzo. The rest is par for the course of a light refresh.

Many thanks for posting this. All seems quite low key, as had been expected given the short time window. Pleased to hear that they are refreshing the suites as we have one booked for next July :)

At least the rumour that there was going to be a Glass House can now be quashed once and for all.

 

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... which is a great shame, as we love the Glass House concept and shall miss it when we are on Arcadia.

I had that email from P&O this morning, I came in here to post it but the site was down!

Strange they just mention that suites will be refreshed and not other cabins??

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At least the rumour that there was going to be a Glass House can now be quashed once and for all.

Indeed. Although I doubt it'll completely go. No doubt it'll be back for the next refurb.

I had that email from P&O this morning, I came in here to post it but the site was down!

Strange they just mention that suites will be refreshed and not other cabins??

I thought that odd too.

Surely it's best to have all cabins in the same style. Granted most of us won't experience the difference between the two, but it just seems unusual to have old and new running at the same time.

Unless they think its implied that it's all the cabins, and they just want to promote the extra work they're doing to the suites.

I also struggle to believe that they will have two different colour schemes. The blurb about suites mentions furniture that other cabins don’t all have anyway, so I suspect that the new furnishings, colours etc will be in all cabins.

^Well that's good. As fine as they are, I think the standard cabin accent of teal and peach is looking tired now.

I wonder what they are actually going to do to the Atrium. New carpets and chairs will hardly give it a 'wow' factor.

^Well that's good. As fine as they are, I think the standard cabin accent of teal and peach is looking tired now.

Yes, the peach and pink hues of the bathrooms on some of the ships were already completely out of fashion when the ships were built. Can’t see them ripping out and replacing all the bathrooms in 2 weeks though. I guess that they would have time to do the suite bathrooms but, as already discussed, it would seem odd to do some categories of cabins but not others.

Not sure how Arcadia looks these days but Aurora cabins certainly need an update. When we were on her on the World Cruise, our cabin was very tired. The carpet was very worn and stained. There's only so much a poor cabin steward can do to make them look respectable.

Just back from cruising the Caribbean on the good ship Arcadia, and yes she has gone in for a spruce up in Germany, they planned to start as soon as they got rid of us on Tuesday morning, and I feel that if the captain could have got his way that they would have made a start whilst we were still aboard. Arcadia in certain areas around the ship is indeed looking a tad worse for wear and some of the bathrooms , well they will certainly benefit from a little care and attention.

:(

I wonder what they are actually going to do to the Atrium. New carpets and chairs will hardly give it a 'wow' factor.

Maybe they will rip out the wall that encloses Ocean Grill on F Deck? On Holland America's Vista-class ships, that wall does not exist so that we can see into the restaurant and the windows beyond. On Arcadia, it's a plain beige wall that contributes nothing to the supposed grandeur of the atrium. To my mind, removal of that wall would be the simplest, yet most dramatic change that could be made to Arcadia.

Maybe they will rip out the wall that encloses Ocean Grill on F Deck? On Holland America's Vista-class ships, that wall does not exist so that we can see into the restaurant and the windows beyond. On Arcadia, it's a plain beige wall that contributes nothing to the supposed grandeur of the atrium. To my mind, removal of that wall would be the simplest, yet most dramatic change that could be made to Arcadia.

We haven't cruised on Arcadia yet, but are doing so next year and are looking forward to the Ocean Grill. If the removal of the wall makes it like Sindhu on Aurora then that would be a shame, as the proximity to the atrium and lack of a solid wall divider makes Sindhu noisy and results in it having a poor ambiance, unlike the versions on Britannia and Ventura which we found to be much better as they are clearly defined and screened from main passenger flow.

It makes me laugh that they say "following your feedback..." Who the hell asked for loads more cabins that make the ship look ugly and prove the dining room can't cope with the additional passengers!!!

Maybe they will rip out the wall that encloses Ocean Grill on F Deck? On Holland America's Vista-class ships, that wall does not exist so that we can see into the restaurant and the windows beyond. On Arcadia, it's a plain beige wall that contributes nothing to the supposed grandeur of the atrium. To my mind, removal of that wall would be the simplest, yet most dramatic change that could be made to Arcadia.

I completely agree. It would be the best solution. Especially if they changed the Ocean Grill into the Med theme also.

Failing that, they could at least put a mural up of the current Arcadia and her predecessor.

It makes me laugh that they say "following your feedback..." Who the hell asked for loads more cabins that make the ship look ugly and prove the dining room can't cope with the additional passengers!!!

Very true. I doubt anyone stood on the aft pool deck and said "you know what this place needs? More wall tiles."

All very well to due cosmetic changes and updates, but what about the infamous air conditioning system? Our experience with it on board was very poor. The cabin controller was of little use, compared with Aurora / Adonia and we,as well as others, complain about the 'Acadia throat'.

By the way, as 'Cunarders' we received early notification of the launch of a Queen Victoria and her maiden voyage. Some months later we were told it had been cancelled, not up to Cunard standard. The new build then offered to HAL (Holland America Line) who in turn also turned it down. Miami told P&O to accept it. So the storey goes!

49 cruise 20 ships 5 cruise lines

All very well to due cosmetic changes and updates, but what about the infamous air conditioning system? Our experience with it on board was very poor. The cabin controller was of little use, compared with Aurora / Adonia and we,as well as others, complain about the 'Acadia throat'.

 

By the way, as 'Cunarders' we received early notification of the launch of a Queen Victoria and her maiden voyage. Some months later we were told it had been cancelled, not up to Cunard standard. The new build then offered to HAL (Holland America Line) who in turn also turned it down. Miami told P&O to accept it. So the storey goes!

 

49 cruise 20 ships 5 cruise lines

They did not take it as she did not have a Queens Room.

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I had that email from P&O this morning, I came in here to post it but the site was down!

Strange they just mention that suites will be refreshed and not other cabins??

 

 

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Apologies if this has been previously posted (though it only seems to have been published 23 hours ago) but unlike other announcements, this one seems to add a little more confirming both Arcadia and Oceana cabins will have a refurb. I'm pleased about that as although we love both ships from a layout/design point of view most areas are ready for a face lift imo.

https://www.ttgmedia.com/news/po-reveals-refit-plans-for-arcadia-and-oceana--12122

Maybe they will rip out the wall that encloses Ocean Grill on F Deck?

I completely agree. It would be the best solution. Especially if they changed the Ocean Grill into the Med theme also. Failing that, they could at least put a mural up of the current Arcadia and her predecessor.

From the article linked above: "P&O is promising a new “wow factor” for the ship’s atrium and reception including a new nautical-themed wall."

It would seem it's the latter. Pitty, but better than nothing.